Method of operating turbines.



PATENTED JUNE 5, 1906.

J. G. DORNBIRER. METHOD OP OPERATING TURBINES.)

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 10, 1904.

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ru. mw. ne I @@n 5W 5 u 5A@ e UNITED STATES JAMES c. DORNBIRER,

OF CLEVELAND, oHIO.

METHOD OF OPERATING TURBINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 10,1904. Serial No. 232,150.

Patented June 5, 1906.

'To all whowt it may concern.- Beit known that I, JAMES G. DORNBIRER,

- a citizen of the United States of America, and

a resident of Cleveland, in the 'county of Cuyalhoga and State ofi-Ohio,have invented certain .new and useful Improvements in Methods ofOperating Turbines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved method of operating turbines orsimilar power-generatmg appliances, and has for its object the operationof such appliances in a simple and economical manner, and particularlyin such manner that the speed of the turbine shall be materially reducedwithout loss of power. It has longbeen a problem in prime motors of thischaracter to secure then' operation. economically and at relatively lowspeeds, it being a-well-known fact that efficient turbines hitherto havebeen driven only at quite high rates of speed. The demand for a rimemotor of this character and of relative y small size has long beenrecognized, but has not thus far been satisfied, as far as I am aware.

My improvements are designed to solve such problem and provide a motormeeting the demands above, my invention contemplating as well improvedmotor mechanism or apparatus, which I reserve for protection in aseparate' patent application.

I may explain the improved method of operation in connection with theVstructure of my invention depicted in the annexed drawings, of which-Figure I is a vertical section through a motordevice adapted to beoperated in accordance with my improvements. Fig. II is an endelevation, partially broken away and in section; and Fig. III is anenlarged detail showing a liquid-supplying-valve mechanism.

Throughout each of the figures the similar parts have been designated bythe same letter of reference.

Initially I will describe the features of construction set forth, makingclear in connection therewith the manner in which it is operated.

A casing a surrounds the entire device, in the base of which areprovided inner burners l for supplying heat thereto. An inner shell bsurmounts the three heating-chambers c, whereby the impelling medium isretained.

From each of said chambers normally closed by floats or valve-likeclosure parts d exten the pipes e, reaching from the bottom-of xchambers to the periphery of the turbinewheel g, rotatably mounted uponshaft h; Extending to each of the heating-chambers is a liquid-supplypipe f, terminating in a head forming a supply-valve '11. is bettershown in Fig. III and comprises a central chambered part adapted tocontain a measured supply of liquid interiorly closed alternatively atits upper end by the conical valve '11 or at its lower extremity by thedisklike valve part i2. provided upon the valve-stem and is adapted toactuate the fluid-supply valve in a manner presently to be described.

A chimney or vent c at the upper portion of the casing a connects withthe interior thereof and the burner-chamber and also affords an exit fora smaller vent in the shell b, disposed directly beneath.

The shaft L is journaled in lateral standards carrying theshaft-bearings at some disl tance from the casing in order to preventtoo high a degree of heat from being communicated to said bearings. 'x

With the construction depicted and above outlinedin mind the operationof a turbine in accordance with my improved method may now very readilybe made clear. Each of the heating-chambers is supplied with animpelling body, rendered fiuid at comparatively low temperatures. TheHuid-supply pipe f is connected with a suitable source, such as awater-supply. Upon several accounts I refer to use for the impellingmedium in c ambers c block-tin, since this metal has a relatively lowmelting-point, retains its heat, and is not easily oxldized. Sufficientsupply of the metal is furnished partially to fill two of theheating-chambers from two-thirds to three-fourths full. Upon heating thetin until the same has become fluid, effected at about 260 centigrade,(although the temperature can with advantage be raised considerablyabove this point) the motor device is in condition for operation and theHuid-supply may be turned on pipef. One of the heating-chambers, as thatat the right, will not contain sufiicient fluid tin to operate thefloat-valve d; but the others will be closed at the valve-openings bytheir respective valves. By means of a manuallyoperated valve-stemy' thevalve/i is momentarily opened and valve i2 accordingly closed,

whereby the chamber of the supply-valve a', is

filled .with water. Releasing valve-stem j will cause` the valve 'L' tocloseand `valve i2 to This valve A hollow metal float i3 is open,thereby releasing the small charge of water in the supply-chamber and'causing it to spread over the surface of the molten tin in the left-handheating-chamber c. Almost immediately this water will be vaporized,generating a high pressure'in said chamber, which increases for a fewmoments, thus causing the molten tin to flow out through pipe e againstthe blades or vanes of the turbine g and causing it to revolve. Thedischarge from the turbine is retained within shell b and readily flowsthrough'the valveopening into the empty right-hand chamber c. ThisContinues until the molten tin and .steam-pressure generated in theleft-hand chamber c have expended themselves upon the turbine. Meanwhilethe middle chamber c may be brought into operation, manually at first,if necessary, as before described. As soon as the pressure in theleft-hand chamber is released valve d will open and the molten tin willonce more flow into this chamber; but, on the other hand, the right-handchamber having become filled valve d will be actuated, the float i willserve to flood the highly-heated tin with a charge or supply of water,and said chamber in its turn will contribute its share to the powerfurnished to turbine g. The operation of the valves and floats may beexplained a little more in detail. When the turbine is to start, thethree valve-chambers i are filled with water or other suitable liquid.Initially the valve stem or lock is in such position that the valve i2.is retained upon its seat, thus preventing the fluid from escaping intothe chamber containing the molten metal. Assuming such metal has beenheated to the proper temperature, the manually-operated valve stem orlock is actuated, whereupon the metal acts upon the float i3, closing'i' and opening valve i2 to permit the liquid to escape into the chamberc. This will generate the pressure, serving to force the molten metalinto the turbine, from whence it flows into the open or emptied chamber,while the steam eventually escapes through the restricted vent and th'echimney r. An operator or engineer with a little experience can.

tell from the operation when the molten metal is forced out of thechamber and will manually release any other valve stems or locksemployed. The floats d are of such weight that nearly all the moltenmetal must fall into their respective chambers before such floats areactuated to close the valveopenings. Floats i3 respectively operate atthis time or even an instant before; but this latter does not interferewith the operation apparently, since there is a sudden explosion whenthe water strikes the molten metal, which will slam the float d into itsseat with considerable force, thus closing the opening.

Such explosion presumably is caused by the molten metal by the impact ofits fall.

ously vaporizing or by the body of water being carried a little belowthe surface of rlte e molten metal does not commence to flow underconstant pressure at the instant of the first explosion; but this occurssome seconds later, since it is initially prevented from doing so onaccount of the height of the column of molten metal normally in thepipes e. I have also observedthat with the metal at atmospheric pressureenough steam from the discharging-chamber will enter the fillingchamberso that when the float d closes its opening the steam will superheat andgenerate sufficient pressure upon the surface of the metal to cause thefloat i3 to operate, closing valve i and opening valve i2. Thus wherethree chambers are employed there will be a regular cycle of operationautomatically continued when once established, wherein one chamber isunder pressure and supplying the impelling medium to the turbine,another is being heated and comes into play before the first isexhausted, and the thlrd is receiving its supply of molten metalpreparatory to actively supplying its charge to the turbine.

It will be at once apprec1ated that a very limited supply of fluid mustbe furnished to each heating-chamber at the proper time,

since the pressure generated therein finds escape in the apparatus shownonly through the relatively slow discharge of the molten metal from theturbine-pipes e. In a small experimental motor device wherein eachheating chamber has approximately one hundred and twenty-five cubicinches capacity a charge of water to the amount of about one-eighth of acubic inch is supplied by valve i, upon each actuation thereo While Ihave in describing my invention set forth specific apparatus andreferred to the preferred use of tin and of water for driving the same,I desire to make it clearly understood that my invention is notnecessarily limited to the use of any of these.

Apparatus varying therefrom obviously may be utilized in practicin myinvention, especially in the number o heating-chambers employed, andmany suitable mediums could be used therein for driving the turbine,since the requirements demand merely an impelling body rendered fluid atrelatively low temperatures, preferably of high specific gravity, and afluid readily vaporized at such temperatures.

Having now explained the method of operation practiced by me in drivinga turbine at relatively low speeds through the action of a fluid of highspecific gravity and under the influence of high pressure, I declare tobe new and desire to secure my said invention as expressed in thefollowing claims:

1. The method substantially as herein ex- Dlained, for driving aturbine, which consists 65 smaller particles of water almost instantanein highly heating an impelling medium while IOO nef

' turbine, under t e in confined in a closed chamber, supplying theretoa readily-vaporized medium, and directing the im ellin medium againstthe uence of the high pressure thusgenerated, substantially as setforth.

2. The method substantially as herein de scribed, for operating aturbine, which consists in heating a suitable body of material havinghigh specific gravity, within a closed chamber, thereafter supplying tosaid me dium a charge of readily-vaporized liquid, and directing thesaid medium under the pressure thus generated against the vanes orsurfaces of the turbine, substantially as set forth.

3. The herein-described method of operating a turbine, which consists inheating bodies of materialrendered fluid at relatively low temperatures,.and having high specific gravity, supplying thereto in turn areadilyvaporized medium and directing in turn the fluid medium againstthe turbine, under the influence of the pressure generated,substantially as set forth.

4. new method for operating a motor device, consisting in highly heatinga body of suitable metal, such as tin, supplylng thereto in a closedchamber a readily-vaporized eX- pansive medium, such as water, anddirecting the molten metal in the motor device, so as to produce powerthrough the high pressure generated by the vaporization, substantober,1904, 1n the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

Witnesses:

CHARLES S. BEARDSLEY, ALBERT LYNN, LAWRENCE.

JAMES G. DORNBIRER.

